Christopher J. Hockert saved Harold R. J. and Stephen M. R. Penner from drowning, Charleston, Oregon, August 6, 1995. Penner, 43, carrying his son Stephen, 4, was walking along the rocky coast of the Pacific Ocean at the mouth of Sunset Bay when he slipped and fell into the ocean. Rough seas took them away from the shoreline, and the very cold water hampered Penner’s efforts to keep himself and Stephen afloat. Penner shouted for help. Fishing nearby, Hockert, 35, field supervisor, was alerted. He removed his boots, and, taking a child’s life jacket, dived into the water and swam to Penner and Stephen, who were then about 40 feet from shore. After an unsuccessful attempt to put the life jacket on Stephen, Hockert grasped Penner and started to swim back to shore, but progress was difficult in the rough water. After a few minutes, they reached the rocks at the shoreline and were aided from the water by another fisherman. Penner and Stephen recovered from scrapes.
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